Universal radiography system

Abstract

A universally employable radiography system has a first ceiling-suspended system for an X-ray radiator that is movable in the three spatial coordinates by means of the first ceiling-suspended system and is pivotable around at least two axes, a second ceiling-suspended system independent of the first for a radiation receiver that is movable in the three spatial coordinates by means of the second ceiling-suspended system, and a bracket, attached to the second ceiling-suspended system, at which the radiation receiver is suspended so as to be movable around at least two axes. The X-ray radiator and the radiation receiver can be positioned opposite one another.

We claim as our invention:  
     
         1 . A radiography system comprising: 
 an X-ray radiator;    a first ceiling-suspended system to which said X-ray radiator is mounted allowing selective positioning of said X-ray radiator in three orthogonal directions and rotation of said X-ray radiator around at least two axes;    a radiation receiver;    a second ceiling-suspended system;    a bracket mounting said radiation receiver to said second ceiling-suspended system, said second ceiling-suspended system allowing selective positioning of said radiation receiver in said three spatial directions and said bracket allowing rotation of said radiation receiver around at least two axes of said bracket; and    said X-ray radiator and said radiation receiver being positionable opposite each other.    
     
     
         2 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said bracket has at least two horizontal axes around which said radiation receiver is rotatable, and wherein said second ceiling-suspended system has a vertical axis around which said radiation receiver also is rotatable.  
     
     
         3 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said radiation receiver is a digital image receiver.  
     
     
         4 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first ceiling-suspended system comprises motorized drives for positioning said X-ray radiator in said orthogonal directions and wherein said second ceiling-suspended system comprises motorized drives for positioning said radiation receiver in said orthogonal directions, and wherein said radiography system further comprises a control unit and wherein said X-ray radiator and said radiation receiver each have position acquisition devices associated therewith for supplying signals to said control unit identifying respective positions of said X-ray radiator and said radiation receiver, and wherein said control unit operates using adjustment software, dependent on said signals, to couple said X-ray radiator and said radiation receiver.  
     
     
         5 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a patient support mechanism adapted to receive a patient thereon for irradiation with X-rays from said X-ray radiator, said patient support mechanism having a base with a radiation-transparent support plate attached cantilevered to said base.  
     
     
         6 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein each of said first and second ceiling-suspended systems is disposed relative to said patient support mechanism to allow rotation of said X-ray radiator and said radiation receiver, disposed opposite each other, around a patient on said patient support mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first and second ceiling-suspended systems are operable in coordination with each other to displace said radiation receiver while simultaneously rotating said X-ray radiator to expose a region having an area larger than an area of said radiation receiver.  
     
     
         8 . A radiography system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said radiation receiver has an image plane, and wherein said first and second ceiling-suspended systems are operable to maintain a central ray emitted from said X-ray radiator perpendicular to said image plane.